OnOne Software FocalPoint 1.1

The use of selective focus has been part of photography since the very first lenses where invented. There are many techniques used to control either the plane of focus or removing sharpness from edges. The most common way to do this is by controlling depth of field in the camera by using a large aperture lens producing a narrow depth of field. Now photographers have a new Photoshop plugin to help put the focus where they want — the all new FocalPoint 1.1.

Selective FocusThe use of selective focus is used to remove distracting backgrounds and to focus the viewers view on the subject. It also has artistic applications as well. This is a popular look in both portrait and wedding work but also commercial and editorial photography, especially food. All of the above mentioned techniques are used at the time the photograph is taken and require addition hardware and knowledge of how to use them. Many of these tools have not transferred to digital or behave differently with digital photography.

A New Tool for the Digital DarkroomFocalPoint plugin for Photoshop gives photographers a way to create realistic depth of field control, plane of focus control and selective focus to any image after it is photographed allowing for more control and precision. The focus bug control in FocalPoint has a tangible, hardware feel much like using a lens. It makes it fast for a photographer to define the "sweet spot" either in a round shape or a plane and then control how much and of what kind of blur they would like to add. This has a huge benefit over hardware tools like auxiliary lenses and filters because it allows the photographer to control the focus after the image is taken, giving them more control and requiring fewer shots in camera.

Easily Add VignettesVignetting refers to the lightening or darkening of the edges of an image. This is a common technique in photography. Vignetting goes hand-in-hand with selective focus. Vignetting is created either in camera using vignetting hoods or in darkroom by burning or dodging the edges of the image. It is used for the same reasons as selective focus, to minimize distractions in the background and focus the viewers eye on the subject. Today vignetting is principally applied in Photoshop through various methods but all of which require multiple manual steps for a controlled and properly shaped sweet spot. FocalPoint plug-in uses the same focus bug controls to allow the photographer to simultaneously selectively blur as well as lighten or darken the areas outside of the sweet spot.

A Virtual LensThe FocusBug is a unique control that allows you to adjust the sweet-spot (the area in focus) and the most commonly used controls in a single, intuitive control. Simply click and drag to position the sweet-spot. Then use the Bug's legs to set the size and shape of the sweet-spot. Next, adjust the antennae to control the type and amount of blur and the hardness of the blur edge. Using the FocusBug is fluid and in real-time, just like using a lens, but in Photoshop.

Save Settings & Create PresetsOnce you have an effect you like, you can save it as a preset so you can easily recall it. FocalPoint remembers all your settings including the relative size and position of the FocusBug so you can apply it to similar images without having to make any adjustments. You can use Photoshop actions to call a FocalPoint preset for batch processing an entire folder of images.